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JAMES C. WITHINGTON, OF BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

' Letters Patent No. 64,179, dated April 23, 1867. i

IMPROVEMENT IN ILLUSQNY DBGAPITATION.

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TO ALL WHM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. WITHINGTON, of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Illusory Decapitation; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willl enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same. reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this speciication.

My discovery relates to that class of inventions which properly belong to the theatrical stage, and which Serve to increase the fund of amusement and recreation for the public, and it vmay with propriety be called a stage trick, whereby a public audience would be deceived and led to suppose that the head of a human being had been cut ofi' before its eyes. v y

Figure 1 represents an eiigy of a female with a wire-frame bonnet or vhood supported onl the shoulders by elastic cords. v i i Figure 2 represents a mask or likeness of the human face.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

The eigy is composed of a frame f wire or wood or any other suitable material so madethat the dress of a female will tit it, and so that it will stand alone. Rolls of some material are fastened to the sides torepresent arms, which are concealed by a cape, cloak, or shawl. There is an aperture through the upper portion sufficiently large to admit a human head and allow it to .pass through and into the bonnet. The mask and alsection of a false neck made of some soft material are placed in a pocket on the inside ready for use.

The operation is as follows: A female has the frame resting on her shoulders, her head and face appearing natural in the bonnet. She appears upon the stage in this manner and talks as femalesrusually do she then turns her back to the audience and walks slowly towards the back of the stage. At this moment a maniac appears with a sword and attracts the attention of the audience for a few moments. The female stops, stoops within the frame and places the mask where her face was. This takes but a moment; she may then turn the frame round so that it will face the audience. The maniac now rushes towards her and seversy the head from the body at a single blow, the false neck having been introduced at the proper time. The particulars of the operation to make the illusion complete would of course be left to the performers.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- The eihgy composed of figs. 1 and 2, constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and described for 'the purposes specified. v

v JAMES C. WITHINGTON.

Witnesses:

T. WILSON SrnA'rToN, JAMEsW. CURTIS. 

